Add parallel Print Page Options

I replied, “But my work for them seems all in vain; I have spent my strength for them without response. Yet I leave it all with God for my reward.”

“And now,” said the Lord—the Lord who formed me from my mother’s womb to serve him who commissioned me to restore to him his people Israel, who has given me the strength to perform this task and honored me for doing it!— “you shall do more than restore Israel to me. I will make you a Light to the nations of the world to bring my salvation to them too.”

Read full chapter

But I said, “I have labored in vain;(A)
    I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,(B)
    and my reward(C) is with my God.”(D)

And now the Lord says—
    he who formed me in the womb(E) to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
    and gather Israel(F) to himself,
for I am[a] honored(G) in the eyes of the Lord
    and my God has been my strength(H)
he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant(I)
    to restore the tribes of Jacob
    and bring back those of Israel I have kept.(J)
I will also make you a light(K) for the Gentiles,(L)
    that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”(M)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 49:5 Or him, / but Israel would not be gathered; / yet I will be